Blog Layout

I wanted my blog to represent what my blog is about. Learning Daily. Walking with God. Life's distractions. Arising from Distractions. Putting God First. Trusting God completely. Giving all to Him.

The Picture at the top is a narrow straight road. It's the road we are to travel on.

Matthew 7:13-14

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The signs in the background are distractions. It's easy to catch your eye on something that is NOT on the narrow road. Life can be a distraction sometimes to the purpose God laid out for us. There are people around that twist the truth. It sounds like the Gospel but its not. If we are not submerged in the word and not listening to those who speak the truth, its easy to get off the narrow road.

I find myself more and more looking things up for myself. Not because I don't trust the person, but I want to know what the Bible says verbatim. Sometimes we quote scripture and not meaning to will leave out a word that can change the whole context of what is supposed to be repeated. I also want to read the verses before it and after it. You get the full meaning that way. One verse sometimes can be used incorrectly to suit your own needs at the time. God never said use my words against me.

So as we walk through life we have distractions but its how we walk through those distractions that define us. Are we still on the narrow road to righteousness? Are we on the path that leads to the narrow gate? But finding truth in God's word is what helps guide us where we need to be at any point in life. God knew that we would struggle to stay with him. He knew and that's the reason he kept giving us chances. He gave us the ultimate chance in knowing his Son, Jesus. Jesus was the ultimate and only way we could ever be with God.

John 14:1-7

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Funerals and Life

Funerals are a funny thing sometimes. They make you sit back and reflect not only on your own life but the people around you.

Last fall we had a series of "Life Sentences". We looked at 18 characters from the Bible and what kind of "Life Sentence" summed up their lives. What did you think of first when you heard their name. What is my life sentence? When I leave this life on earth, what will people say? Will they say I lived a good life? Will they say I lived a selfish life? And although it's not what others think of me and what God sees in me... I still want my "Life Sentence" to reflect HIM!

These last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions. Even though it wasn't my father that passed this time, it was my wife's father. Several emotions that I went through were anger, sadness, confusion, helpless, happy, relieved and other emotions related to those. Those who read my blog and know the relationship that her and her father had will understand the happiness and being relieved. The anger was in part to it was the day before our Anniversary and "that man" had screwed up something else that was beautiful in our lives. He messed up a day of celebration. What a "JERK". I know that doesn't sound like something I should say and how hateful those words are. But it just reminded me of the man he was. If I was to summarize his life in a life sentence... it would have to be... "He never knew true joy because he chose to miss out on God, Life, and Family and wasted his life in misery." It's actually sad how miserable he was. Anyways... I don't know how he lived his final days. Maybe he made peace with God. Maybe he did ask Jesus to save him. I won't know until I pass this life. As much as I don't like the things he did, I don't know how he spent his final days. My hope is that when Michele tried to minister to him a few years ago, he took to heart what she said.

Of all the things that I have learned over the last several years have taught me that even when someone does us wrong and Jesus enters in they are never the same from that moment on. Even though we remember all the terrible things they did. We might have forgiven them but we have never forgotten. God's grace is so much better than that. God's grace not only forgives but He FORGETS our wrong. That is what we are to do. It's not easy. In fact for me I would say that is probably harder than "Loving my neighbor". It goes with the Pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

And...

Romans 9:14

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

When I started this I had planned on going a different direction but as you can see it went where God needed me to be.

I don't know if I have ever forgave that man for doing the horrible things he did to Michele.

As I read more of Matthew.. this is what I found...

Matthew 5:43-48

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

As I reflect over the last few days... I am glad that I was able to be with Michele thru this. I hope that she finds closure thru all of this one way or another.

As I head to bed tonight... I have the words from Matthew to focus on. Change is hard but necessary!